I. vs. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
- Jude continues on with a few more historical examples of apostates.
- gone in the way of Cain - he presented the fruit of His own works as a sacrifice to God - Reminds us of those who think they can "work" their way to heaven
- Ran greedily after the error of Balaam - Balaam was on his way to curse Israel and get paid for it - but God stopped him in the road - using his donkey - God opened the donkeys mouth and allowed him to speak to Balaam... it finally got his attention!
- Balaam was a hireling - this is a warning to those modern "Christianity" sellers who preach a HAPPY only gospel that has made them fortunes - they preach only what people WANT to hear.
- "perished in the gainsaying of Core" - Core or Korah raised himself up in pride and despised Moses' authority (see Jude vs.8) - God judged him and his whole family... the earth opened and swallowed them up
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
- Spots in your pure feasts - a stain on a pure act of worship
- clouds without water - EMPTY or DRY
- carried by winds - EASILY CHANGEABLE, no foundation
- trees whose fruit withereth - fruit of the spirit is evidence of the Holy Spirit within - but withered fruit is evidence of what within?
- without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots - they have no depth - no fruit - THEY ARE DEAD WITHIN
- Raging waves - PUSHING or CRASHING to do their own will
- wandering stars - mariners guide their journey using the constancy of the stars - but WANDERING stars have no constancy no ability to guide
- their judgement is clear - the blackness of darkness forever - God is not taking these "false Christians" lightly - this is serious!
14. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
- God has prophesied the judgement for these - and it is big... he will bring 10,000 of his saints to execute this judgement.
- convincing them of their ungodliness - he uses this word 4 times in vs. 15 alone... they are UNGODLY
- murmurers
- complainers
- walking after their own lusts - seeking their own glory and not GOD's
- They speak great words - they talk a good talk but have no spiritual life to back it up
- people think well of them because they "look" so spiritual - people see only the outward show... that is why Jude is exhorting us on how to "pick them out of the crowd" - they have snuck in unawares, but it is our job to detect them and warn the saints against their "counterfeit Christianity"
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